Saturday, 25 May 2013

Hello fellow crafters,
This morning, John and I had a delicious brunch in a nearby village with our lovely neighbours at a little coffee shop/gift shop/nursery which is owned by some mutual friends of ours. We had a most enjoyable couple of hours, catching up on what each of us have been doing. We laughed heaps, not least of all, at all our 'aches and pains'...Charles was recovering from a 48 hour 'tummy bug', Rosalie was covered in bruises from a nasty fall at work 2 nights ago (she is a midwife), and a few weeks ago, I tore a ligament in my right ankle, broke a toe in my left foot last week, and last night I got up off the sofa awkwardly, and 'cricked' my back.

As a result of my 'socialising', I had to rush this afternoon to colour this adorable image,

and produce a card to enter in a challenge which ends in a few hours.

This too, too cute image is by the very talented Heather Valentin, and Heather offered it free

to anyone to use to enter the challenge. Thank you, Heather, I love these cuties. The cardstock

is more lemon than it appears, but the fading light may have contributed to the incorrect colour.

Using my Promarkers, I coloured the little otters first, then coloured the water

over the top of the Almond and Satin colours.

Inside the card - I'm sorry the image is so blurry, but by the time I uploaded

the photos, the last of the daylight had faded, so I couldn't take any repeats.

Hello fellow crafters,
Last week I was thrilled to find that I had been chosen as the winner of challenge #27 in ABC Challenges, with this card that I made for my blogger friend, Pauline's birthday.

My prize was to be their Guest Designer for this week's challenge,

'Make Your Own Stamped Background'

This is my card, using a colour I rarely use, orange. I felt like getting my fingers inky, something else I rarely do, so I made some more of my parchment roses.

For my background paper I used Express Blend-it card, which I normally use for my images that I colour with Promarkers. It is beautiful to work with when using a Resist Technique. I stamped the swirls with Versamark ink, then embossed them with Silver Pearl embossing powder, which creates such a

luxurious look. 'Tis a pity that did not show up in the photo. I sponged the whole card with Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink, then wiped it with a facial tissue. It doesn't show, but I lightly sponged the leaves

with Sage Versacube ink.

A closer look at my parchment roses. They have Flower Soft in the centres.

Wednesday, 22 May 2013

Hello fellow crafters, and a big welcome to my newest followers, Mamma Mia and Debi. Thank you for taking the time to sign up, and I hope you enjoy your visits.

There is a new challenge for you at Penny's Paper Crafty, and our theme this week (my card may give you a clue) is

'CIRCLES'

Our 2 generous sponsors this week are

and

The image I have used is 'Most Adorable Raccoons' by The Paper Shelter.

I think I have mentioned before that I love recycling. The silver layers are actually the underside of yoghurt lids. The darker one is the same brand as the others, but reflected the top I was wearing.

Racoons are not found here in Australia, so I had to look them up on the internet to see what colours they are. I coloured them with my Promarkers. They really are the cutest little critters, aren't they.

I'm not really happy with the inside of my card. Rather than adhere a piece of the DP to the bottom of the card, I decided to split the piece, for a change. The 'corners' are just a circle I cut into quadrants.

Wednesday, 15 May 2013

Hello fellow crafter's and welcome to my newest follower, Lindsay. I hope you enjoy your visits.
Where did last week go????? Here we all are, ready for a new challenge at Penny's Paper Crafty, where our theme this week is -

'STEP CARD OR EASEL CARD'

Our lovely 2 sponsors this time are

and

My card is a very simple '2-step card'.

I have made several cards before using the cutest little dragon, Rupert, by Stampin' Dragon. This time he is having a bath with his duckie friend, and the digi image is called (no prizes for guessing),

Rupert's Bathtime.

As usual, I coloured the image with Promarkers. I also added Star Dust Stickles

to the bubbles, but it does not show up in the photos.

A side-on view to show the folds of the card.

Inside the card.

As the paper is so pale I thought the message could be with directly on it.

Wednesday, 8 May 2013

Hello fellow crafters,
It appears that spring has finally arrived to those of you in the northern hemisphere, and likewise autumn has finally arrived here in Oz. We actually lit our woodfire last night, and today it is chilly, miserably overcast and drizzling. For the past few weeks we have had temperatures ranging from 23 - 30 oC. Talk about an 'Indian Summer'.

I just can't believe how fast the weeks are rushing by, so it is again time for another challenge at Penny's Paper Crafty. You should all have fun with the theme this week,

'DIES CUTS and/or PUNCHES'

Our lovely sponsors this week are

and

I was asked to choose a digital image from Fred She Said Designs, and my choice was Blue Jay and Raspberries. They have so many lovely images, it was difficult to choose just one.

That absolutely gorgeous paper was a sheet about A3 size. I bought it 2½ years ago in London at a very old shop a few blocks from the British Museum. It sold the most exquisite papers, and did book-binding - the old way. They also had a couple of antique printing presses there. I swear I was swooning, and fit to faint, being the paper-addict I am. This paper was made in Italy, and is of stunning quality. It was priced to reflect that, but I didn't mind...I just had to have it. This is the first time I have used it.

Tuesday, 7 May 2013

Last Saturday was a very special day for 2 of my dear friends, Diane and Pauline. Diane, I have mentioned in several of my blog posts (in fact, she was the subject of my very first post). We met during our first week in High School, just over 50 years ago, and have remained firm friends ever since, even if we live a long distance from each other. I made Diane's Asian themed card several weeks ago for a challenge. Diane and her late Mum love/loved anything from Japan, and many years ago had a lovely holiday there.You can see that card here.

The other friend is my great 'blogging buddy' in England, Pauline. She is on several design teams, and her beautiful cards are amazing. You would definitely enjoy a visit to her blog.

I made this card for Pauline, using one of the 3 gorgeous Lili of the Valley stamps she sent me last Christmas. Thank you again, Pauline.

Wednesday, 1 May 2013

Hello fellow crafters, and a big welcome to my newest follower, Rowena, a beautiful young lady I have known since she was a little girl.

What an eventful week I have had, culminating in an injured ankle. X-rays confirmed that there is nothing broken, and the Dr. in A. & E. thinks I may have just "twisted" it. He told me to stay off it for 7-10 days, but Ha!!! he does not know me. That is like asking the sun not to rise in the morning!!

Enough of my woes...it is yet again time for another challenge at Penny's Paper Crafty, and the theme this week is one that I personally love, and I know a lot of you do too.

'ANIMALS'.

As I visit your blogs when I leave my comments, the vast majority of you seem to have photos of your beloved pets on your side-bars (as I do). Your projects do not have to feature pets, but any animals, such as in a zoo, farm or jungle.

We have 3 generous sponsors this week, and they are

and

and

We were offered several images from which to choose, and loving cats the way I do, I chose this adorable digi image, Purr Button 014, from Digi Stamp Characters. Aren't they the sweetest kittycats!

About Me

I am 60+, married to a wonderful man since 1972, have recently retired from professional singing, and also recently completed a Bachelor degree at Uni. I have been making cards for many years, and occasionally dabble in scrapbooking. You are welcome to use my cards as inspiration, but please do not copy, then claim it as your own work.